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The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) is the “bill of rights” of the modern administrative state. Passed by Congress and signed by President Truman in 1946, the APA establishes the central framework ensuring that “governors shall be governed” and “regulators shall be regulated.” This landmark statute lays the foundation for all forms of rulemaking, agency adjudication, judicial review, and public participation in the regulatory process. And even though the APA does not directly govern the President, it forms the backdrop against which that office’s power is exercised.

Though Congress has not substantively amended the APA in the last eight decades, its vision of the administrative state has nevertheless undergone seismic shifts at the hands of the judiciary. In recent terms, the Court has fundamentally changed the appointments and removals of administrative officers, the administrative adjudication of individuals’ rights, the role of the federal courts in interpreting regulations, and agencies’ understanding of their statutory grants. These changes have, in turn, sparked renewed debates about the future of governance, democracy, and the rule of law.

The Stanford Law Review will convene its 2026 Symposium to reflect on this evolving landscape. Contributors will join leading scholars and practitioners in reassessing the last eighty years of administrative law and its quickly evolving future.

The Symposium will take place February 27-28, 2026.

Confirmed presenters include: Professor Deborah Archer (NYU); Professor Nicholas Bednar (University of Minnesota); Professor Laura Donohue (Georgetown); Professor Nicholas Handler (Texas A&M); Professor Todd Phillips (Georgia State University); Professor Matthew Sanders (Stanford University); Mr. Joe Schottenfeld (University of Chicago); Professor Mila Sohoni (Stanford); and Professor Daniel Walters (Texas A&M).

The Lunchtime Keynote Speakers are Kavita Narayan (County of Santa Clara); Mathura Sridharan (Solicitor General of Ohio); and Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. (Munger, Tolles & Olson; Solicitor General of the United States, 2011-16).

The Dinner Keynote Speaker is Chief Judge James Boasberg of the District Court for the District of Columbia.

Location: All panels will take place in Room 290 on the second floor of the Crown Building. The Crown Building is located at Stanford Law School (559 Nathan Abbott Way). The Law School has posted directions with parking recommendations. We will have signage directing attendees to the event.

Schedule:

Friday, February 27th

* Lunch will be provided.

Saturday, February 28th 

* Lunch will be provided.

Keynote Dinner: While our dinner with Chief Judge Boasberg is currently full, every year, we are typically able to add a few dinner attendees from our waitlist. To join our dinner waitlist, please email symposium@stanfordlawreview.org. We’d love to see you there!